Australia's weather bureau issued a gale wind warning for waters along the central coast of Queensland state, the world's largest coking coal shipper.

The warning currently extends from Cairns to Gladstone, and the affected area will be reduced to between Mackay and Double Island Point tomorrow, Craig Mitchell, senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology , said by phone from Brisbane. There may be ``gusty conditions around coastal areas,'' he said.

Loading of coal at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty, the second-largest in Australia, has been delayed because of the strong winds, said Greg Smith, general manager for operations at the Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group unit that owns the site.

``There will be a slight delay of up to a maximum of 24 hours,'' he said by phone. The delay isn't likely to have a ``material affect'' on any ships, he said. It is ``not an unusual event and it's not a lengthy delay.''

The coal terminal, which lies 38 kilometers (24 miles) south of Mackay, is the country's second biggest after Newcastle.